MB&F Releases the Purple Frog Zr HM3

MB&F seems to like amphibians. There’s the green frog, the Rebel Yell , and while not a frog, there’s the HM3 in  form of a stunning owl, a collaboration with Boucheron. Now there’s the HM3 purple frog dubbed the Frog Zr. What does Zr stand for, well I pondered that too. It means zirconium, which is a metal similar to titanium but apparently tougher. And while rare on earth, zirconium is relatively abundant in S-type stars and it has been detected in the sun and in meteorites.

MB&F gives an example of how rugged and resilient this new HM3 is: modern jet engines have a protective layer of the Zr along with yttrium oxide on them to endure the high temperatures and stresses during flight.

So what about our purple frog. What is he made of? He’s got a black PVD zirconium skin and that luscious purple 22k gold rotor that also glimmers with highlights of green and yellow. In a limited edition of 18, the new Frog Zr is available from retail partners in Los Angeles, Greenwich, Mexico City, Paris, London, Interlaken, Kiev, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Taichung and Macao, as well as the newest partner located in Costa Rica. Since the froggie inhabits Costa Rica and specifically the rare Isthmohyla rivularis species resides there, it seems great timing for this fashion forward HM3.

HM3 Frog Zr – Technical Specifications

HM3 Frog Zr is a limited edition of 18 pieces

Movement:

Three-dimensional horological engine designed by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht/Agenhor;
Powered by a Girard-Perregaux base

Balance oscillating at 28,800 bph.

Purple 22K rose gold battle-axe shaped ‘mystery’ automatic winding rotor

Hour and minutes information transmitted via ceramic ball bearings to rotating domes.

Number of jewels: 36 (all functional)

Number of components: 304

Functions:

Hour on one dome (aluminium dome rotating in 12 hours)

Minutes on second dome (aluminium dome rotating in 60 minutes)

Date around the movement

Case:

Zirconium; limited edition of 18 pieces

Screwed-down crown

Dimensions (exclusive of crown and lugs): 47mm x 50mm x 16mm

Number of case components: 53

Sapphire crystals:

Domes and both display backs with anti-reflective treatment on both faces.

Dials:

Rotating aluminium domes – 0.58g, stationary hands

Strap & Buckle:

Black hand-stitched alligator strap with 18K white gold & titanium custom designed deployment buckle